It’s pretty amazing that I’m even able to type this blogpost as I’m working on a few hours of sleep in the last couple days. Airplanes and timezones from across the globe just don’t go together. Me and a new friend named Ayo from Atlanta arrived in Lagos yesterday and flew to Benin City today. Ayo is originally from Lagos, so he has showed me a little lay of the land.

We are both here to speak at a Spiritual Leadership Summit “The Reposition” that’s put on by Pastor Benson Akhigbe. His ministry Firm Foundation is truly committed to being a life development church. Firm foundation is a young vibrant ministry with a vision to raise men and women who cure desert places in every stage and segment of life. Their mission is making men and women know the person and power of the Holy Spirit by a definite experience, building Godly families and raising leaders with public and private success.

This event is a big deal as this ministry is committed to “Securing The Future” of this community and nation. I’m honored to be here speaking on “Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Social Media.” The hospitality has been over the top splendid. The image above is my hotel room that I just checked into a little bit ago. Speaking of secure the future, this hotel is secured with security officers with AK-47’s.

I’ve heard lots of things about Nigeria, some are true and many are not so true. What I do know is there are lots of bright, passionate, servant hearted individuals committed to making a difference in the name of Jesus. Secondly, I know that Nigeria is full of opportunity.

Cool sidebar note: One of young men that just picked me up at the airport @JoeyeParker just recently started a blog and said he was inspired by my blog and the blog and Platform Book by my friend @MichaelHyatt. Michael is viewed as someone who freely gives away tools for success from people all around the world. What a small world it is.

Disclaimer: pardon any incoherency found in this post. Sleep deprivation is the cause. 🙂

In all my years of leadership/followership and from my experience providing leadership consulting, I have come to realize that Great Leaders and Great Leadership Cultures are willing to Challenge ‘The King.” I’m not talking about challenging King LeBron James to a game of 1 on 1. I’m referring to “The King” as the Big Boss, The CEO, The Department Chair, Team Leader, The Senior Pastor, The President… The Senior Leader that’s making the decisions, ‘The King.”

What generally happens in an organization is that “The King” develops a style, a system and a reputation for the types of decisions that he or she will make and the type of feedback that they are willing to receive. Those that are closest to “The King” begin to accept those tendencies as the law and over-time challengeable actions, decisions and offenses go un-challenged. The excuses for not challenging “The King” range from,”that’s just how so and so is — you know they will not even entertain that thought.” This type of situation and culture is not good for “The King,” those that follow and the organization as a whole.

“The King” ends up leading from an isolated rarely challenged clueless bubble. A bubble that’s not going to bust because it’s not being poked, prodded and challenged. Those that follow “The King” will sit around and talk about what “The King” is or is not doing and the decisions “The King” is or is not making, which only leads to more problems for “The King” and the organization.

Great Leaders Challenge “The King” which not only makes them better leaders, it makes the King a better King. If an organization is being led by a King that is not willing to be challenged by those around him, the organization is being set up for failure. If leaders are not willing to challenge “The King” they will never be great leaders and are stifling their leadership potential. If an organization doesn’t foster a “culture of challenge” at all levels, it’s time to change the culture. Great Leaders Challenge “The King” and Great Kings create a culture where all things, decisions and people will be challenged… including themselves.

If an organizational culture allows for this absolute, imperious, or overbearing control to permeate through their organization, they are setting their organization up to become a dictatorship.

Great Leaders Challenge “The King” and Great Kings Want To Be Challenged

It truly breaks my heart every time that I hear about people having affairs; especially those who have been entrusted with a leadership role. It doesn’t matter whether we are talking about the President, Politicians, Teachers, Pastors, Coaches, Worship Leaders, Sports Superstars… These individuals who have been blessed and entrusted with the responsibility of leadership influence should hold that influence tightly, lightly and responsibly all at the same time.

Honestly, as a pastor this selfish cheating mess is probably one of the most frustrating/irritating areas to counsel people through; especially when the individuals don’t seem to understand the impact of their selfish actions. Not only do they not realize the impact, but they would have probably continued if they hadn’t gotten caught. This tragedy can also be one of the most rewarding areas to celebrate/praise on the other side, through total repentance and legitimate restoration.

I know people may say Scott you are naive and it can happen to anybody, but I say this with all the humility I can muster up “IT DOESN’T HAVE TO HAPPEN TO ANYBODY!” I read through 1 Corinthians 6 again today and I don’t care what version I read, The Message, New Century or NIV, they all communicated the same thing. Run, Flee, Your Body Is A Temple, You Were Bought By God For a Price. As Christ Followers and especially as Christian Leaders; we don’t get to pick and choose how we act. We are held to a higher standard and if we can really do all things through Christ who gives us strength; I have to believe that “all things” encompasses honoring our covenant vows before God and to our spouse.

None of us are perfect, we all sin, we all fall short, we all know right from wrong and I would argue that even a non-believer understands that they are not supposed to cheat on their spouse. Marriage is serious, Treat It As Such!

A word to Pastors, Leaders or anyone else who is cheating, flirting or going down that road: Stop, Flee, Run and Pray. Proverbs 5:5 talks about the adulteress woman this way, “She’s dancing down the primrose path to Death; she’s headed straight for Hell and taking you with her.” So many end up on the primrose path and don;t even realize how they got there. You can’t get there, if you don’t go near there.

Satan doesn’t have any power over you, only the power to deceive. If you’re choosing to go down this road of deception, ultimately Satan is Playing you like a drum and Pimpin’ you like a prostitute!

I am only one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
And what I can do, I ought to do.
And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do.
I will do more than belong… I will participate.
I will do more than care… I will help.
I will do more than believe… I will practice.
I will do more than be fair… I will be kind.
I will do more than dream… I will work.
I will do more than teach… I will inspire.
I will do more than earn… I will enrich.
I will do more than give… I will serve.
I will do more than live… I will grow.
I will do more than talk… I will act.
I will be more than good… I will be good for something.

I blog 5 – 6 times each week and it’s just a consistent part of my daily regimen. People often ask me, “How do I come up with so many blogging ideas and so much blogging material?” The answer to that question is simple. Blogging Ideas Are Everywhere!

It’s truly that simple. There tons of blogging ideas everywhere, we simply have to look for them. As a matter of fact, below are 11 Ways To Come Up With Great Blogging Ideas Before Lunch. These are my personal ways, yours may be just a little different.

The bottom line is Fresh New Blogging Ideas are everywhere. There is actually some research that indicates that individuals whom blog daily are smarter. This is attributed to the fact that on a daily basis they are forcing themselves to think about and interact with the world around them in a different context.

I simply keep a running note of thoughts in my iPhone yellow notes. I can easily jump on a flight and knock out a couple of weeks of blogposts or I can simply get up each morning and knock out a post from something that’s fresh on my mind.

The key is to think and to think often.

How do you get fresh new blogging ideas? Share your thoughts on The #1 Place To Get Fresh New Blogging Ideas.

As I was leaving the rental car area at the Phoenix Airport yesterday, I noticed this sign. I did a couple of double-checks, pat-downs, re-glances and scanned my memory to make sure that I didn’t forget anything. It made me think of this question we should be asking ourselves everyday before we leave out of the door.

DID YOU REMEMBER TO PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD?

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray… Ephesians 6:10-18a

DID YOU REMEMBER TO PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD?

How different would our days, weeks and lives be if we asked this question daily? Share your thoughts.

September 17, 2012 in
God,Music,Video,Worship with
Comments Off on LIVE Video :: Kirk Franklin Kicks Off The Kings Men Tour

I surprised my wife yesterday by jumping on an airplane in #OKC and taking her to the opening night of The Kings Men Tour in Phoneix. Saturday night I told her to pack a bag and we left early Sunday morning. She literally didn’t know where we were going until we checked in to get our VIP Passes.

I will say this; Kirk Franklin, Israel Houghton, Donnie McClurkin and Marvin Sapp put on a stellar show. It was an awesome evening of entertainment, worship and church. If you like Gospel Music just a little bit, I encourage you to check out The Kings Men Tour Schedule and grab some tickets to a city near you. It will be worth your money in the first 30 minutes.

This video is just a snapshot of the show as Kirk Franklin kicks off the evening with thousands of people engaged, worshiping and having a great time.

Often times the only limits that we have in our lives are the ones that are self-imposed. Seriously, the majority of the things that we dream about, we can actually accomplish. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not such a “pie in the sky” type of person that I believe that I can go play in the NFL.

I do believe that the things that I’m passionate and dream about can and will come true with some hard-work. Although I might not be able to play in the NFL, I do believe if I was serious enough about it, I could go be a great sports agent and work with NFL athletes.

Stop limiting yourself with small thinking.

Stop limiting yourself because of what other people think.

Stop limiting yourself because of your past failures.

Stop limiting yourself because the mountain seems to high.

It’s time to start Living Without Limits, because I guarantee the limits that your a facing, are self imposed. Yesterday was a memory and tomorrow is a dream. dream BIG. think BIGGER.

Life is a game… Play It Well.

Life is a race… Finish Strong.

Life is a battle… Fight Hard.

Life is a relationship… Love More.

Life is an opportunity… Seize More.

Life is a quote… Put An Exclamation Point At The End!

Life is what you make it, it’s time to get rid of the insecurities, fears and doubts and start Living Without Limits.